Ohio EPA Awards Environmental Education Mini Grant to Portage County

Portage County Water Resources has received a $1,000 Ohio EPA environmental education mini grant to increase public awareness of the county’s water and wastewater treatment plants. The county was one of ten Ohio organizations to be awarded Ohio EPA environmental education mini grants totaling $42,813.

Portage County Water Resources will use the money to print and distribute educational pamphlets to customers. The pamphlets will show residents how they can help protect surface water and drinking water supplies, properly dispose of wastes and become good stewards of the environment. The outreach effort also will help the county meet source water protection plan and wastewater pretreatment plan requirements.

The Ohio Environmental Education Fund gives out approximately $1 million each year for environmental education projects targeting kindergarten through university students, the general public and the regulated community. General grants are given for projects lasting up to 30 months and costing up to $50,000.

Mini grants are available for projects lasting up to 12 months and costing between $500 and $5,000. Proposals for classroom projects, conference speakers and other activities that are eligible under the general grant program are eligible under the mini grant program, but the application process is streamlined. Ohio EPA’s Office of Environmental Education reserves up to $50,000 each grant round to fund projects submitted under this program. Just like the general grant program, there are two mini grant rounds each year, with the next application deadline on Jan. 15, 2012. An electronic letter of intent to apply is due by Jan. 8, 2012.

For more information, contact Ohio EPA’s Office of Environmental Education at (614) 644-2873. Staff is available to assist potential grant applicants who contact the office before the submission deadline. Information also is available online.

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